From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Oakcrest junior Brielle Smith won the javelin Saturday at the Woodbury Relays and moved into the No. 4 spot in South Jersey history and the No. 1 spot on the 2018 New Jersey javelin list.

Smith improved her PR from 145-0 at last year’s Rowan Invitational to 150-7 at Woodbury. Her throw is the best by a South Jersey girl in six years. She came within 21 inches of the Atlantic County record of 152-4, set in 2009 by Jill Shanner of Egg Harbor Township.

Smith’s throw is also No. 7 in New Jersey history and No. 4 in the U.S. this year. She broke the New Jersey junior class record of 146-5 set in 2003 by Amanda Harmata of Raritan at nationals in Raleigh, N.C., and the South Jersey junior class record of 143-4 set in 2011 by Maria Jimenez of Vineland at Group 4 sectionals.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey list, with the new implement (which went into use in 2002):

• 160-  8 … Maria Jimenez (Vineland), 2012
• 152-  9 … Katherine Johnston (Haddonfield), 2012
• 152-  4 … Jill Shaner (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2009
• 150-  7 … Brielle Smith (Oakcrest), 2018
• 148-  8 … Caitlin Cielo (Eastern), 2002
• 146-  7 … Victoria Imbesi (Our Lady of Mercy), 2008
• 141-  6 … Lindsay Minch (Pennsville), 2010
• 141-  5 … Kelly Yanucil (Bordentown), 2013
• 141-  1 … Tumelo Nwanma (Vineland), 2016
• 141-  0 … Jocelyn McRae (Millville), 2006
• 140-  1 … Caitlin Ciello (Eastern), 2002
• 140-  0 … Melissa Lake (Cherokee), 2011

And here’s the all-time New Jersey 150-foot list, including again only marks made with the new javelin:

• 160-  8 … Maria Jimenez (Vineland), 2012
• 155-  8 … Daina Pucurs (Demarest), 2004
• 155-  0 … Jamie Klein (Paramus Catholic), 2011
• 154-11 … Nia Barnes (West Orange), 2011
• 152-  9 … Katherine Johnston (Haddonfield), 2012
• 152-  4 … Jill Shaner (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2009
• 152-  3 … Shauntierah Douglas (Garfield), 2012
• 150-  7 … Brielle Smith (Oakcrest), 2018